Wamp

[Michael J]

Hi,
Anyone know if the above server 'WAMP' can be used/setup to test Actinic sites locally before final upload etc. and if so how?
Thanks
Mike :confused:

[Darren B]

yes it can but i do not know of any step by step instructions.

If you cant do it then spend £30 and buy a dummy domain and hosting package and upload it to a live enviroment then all you need to do is change your network settings when your ready.

[NormanRouxel]

You really only need the "A" of WAMP, i.e. the Apache bit. Then you also need Perl as this is what Actinic uses for the Cart, Checkout, etc. You also need an FTP server for Actinic to upload into.

The Advanced Guide (http://www.actinic.co.uk/support-centre/download-centre.html) has an article "Installing a Standalone Demo on a PC" that walks you through installing exactly (and only) what's needed. There's even a troubleshooting section which may be useful when you're adding so many different things at once.

[Darren B]

The Advanced Guide has an article "Installing a Standalone Demo on a PC" that walks you through installing exactly (and only) what's needed.

I completely forgot about that, its been a few years ;)

[NormanRouxel]

I do that entire AG article from memory nowadays. Have installed the server setup twice this month already. Just had a re-read of the AG and see that it uses a more up-to-date WarFTPd than I use. Like the troubleshooting section. That will be very useful.

[Michael J]

Hi,
Thanks for that. I've followed the 'Advanced user Guide Stand Alone Demo', Perl, no problem, Apache, no problem, Warftpd, the latest version, nothing works, can't get it to work, link to any files etc. and uninstalling it proved a real pain! that's why I'm searching for an alternative set-up, if I could get Warftpd to work I wouldn't have a problem!! Any help here could prove useful.:(

[NormanRouxel]

I'm afraid that telling us "can't get it to work" isn't giving us much to go on.

Regardless of which server (WAMP, etc) you use you're going to need an FTP server for Actinic to upload into.

[NormanRouxel]

UPDATE: Just uninstalled the ancient 1.67 WarFTPd that I use and installed War-FTPd.exe version:1,82,0,13 as per the Advanced Guide. Using Windows 7 Professional (on Windows 7, right-click the downloaded installation .exe and choose Run as administrator).

No problems (although I did tweak the paths as my htdocs is not within Apache but on a separate data drive).

[Darren B]

Hi,
Thanks for that. I've followed the 'Advanced user Guide Stand Alone Demo', Perl, no problem, Apache, no problem, Warftpd, the latest version, nothing works, can't get it to work, link to any files etc. and uninstalling it proved a real pain! that's why I'm searching for an alternative set-up, if I could get Warftpd to work I wouldn't have a problem!! Any help here could prove useful.:(

what version of perl? it wont work with v5.10 max is v5.08

[NormanRouxel]

I'm using Perl (ActivePerl ) v5.10.1 on a local server with no problems. I think it's only 5.10.0 that's not safe.

Current version is 5.12 which should also be fine.

[Michael J]

Hi,
My problem was with 'warftpd' only.
To update the problem, installs apparently OK, it starts Ok, login on the connection properties screen OK, then, firstly the right facing green arrow is greyed out so can't click on that to proceed, however, have managed to get to the 'WarDaemonManager' screen and thence to 'User Manager' screen and that's it, the instructions state to click on FTP access which allows that then 'security' which should give me a top right panel populated with files etc. that's my problem, box is empty, no files or anything. Nothing I've tried has produced any files/directories.
Now, I've either made a complete c**k up or the prog' ain't working! I know, it's probably me, but advice would be appreciated.
The suggestion of a dummy domain and hosting is begining to seem a good idea, but then, I'd be giving up, wouldn't I?!!
Mike

[Michael J]

OK, forget the last post, now managed to get 'Warftpd' working by NOT following the instructions!!
However, now uploaded my site but am getting error messages informing me that 'acatalog' contains unrecognised characters. Some pages work but the main store doesn't, any clues here? And where can I find these characters to change them etc?

[NormanRouxel]

Michael,

You provide such vague information that it's hard to help. E.g. "am getting error messages". Where from and what are you doing when they occur? Actinic? Browser? O/S?

BTW - I have never installed WarFTPd V1.8 before (V1.6 has a completely different installation sequence and user interface). Had no trouble when following the Advanced Guide instructions.

[Michael J]

Hi, Sorry about that, just a bit fed up with everything going pear shaped all the time. Warftpd now is working OK. Checked Apache set up and that's OK as instructed. Checked perl files but they aren't exactly as specified for example perl.exe ain't there but it is with a different name, and the registry entry doesn't tally up either so may be a problem, ran the test as instructed and get the error message in red as specified so something is working! The error messages are originally in Actinic as it uploads (contains invalid characters etc) and when I try to navigate the site in a browser I just get script error messages which I will run through and supply you with later. BTW, thanks for the help.
Mike

[Darren B]

I'm using Perl (ActivePerl ) v5.10.1 on a local server with no problems. I think it's only 5.10.0 that's not safe.

Current version is 5.12 which should also be fine.

Ah ha thats interest Norman as another thread around here said it was not working ho hum confusion reigns

Darren

[Michael J]

OK, now for the errors.
First one at upload from Actinic: An error occured while merging files on the remote site.
<HTML><TITLE>Actinic</TITLE><BODY><H1> A General Script Error Occured</H1><HR>Error:"<path>/acatalog/"contains invalid characters.<HR>Press the Browser back button and try again or contact the site owner. </BODY></HTML>

Second one in Browser: A GENERAL SCRIPT ERROR OCCURED. Error. "/acatalog/" contains invalid characters.

Browser:
http://localhost - takes me to the Home Page, clicking on the nav bar for store = error
http://localhost/acatalog - takes me to the store, some links work, most don't = error

Does this help with identifying the problem?
Thanks
Mike

[NormanRouxel]

You need Perl running properly first.

First of all, tell us which Perl you've installed. Open a command prompt and type perl -v and you'll get full info. Also what version of Windows you're using (e.g. Windows 7 Pro 64 bit).

Then tell us what the Actinic Network Test (via Web / Network Setup) does.

[Michael J]

Info as requested:

Perl v5.12.2 MSWin32x86 multi thread with 8 reg patches.

Windows XP sp3

Network Test - SMTP - whatever I enter proves incorrect/not valid even 'localhost' leaving blank is not an option.
Mail Test: successful
Server: passed
Connection: failed
Sockets: passed
Comms': failed
Authorisation: failed
Message: No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it.

[NormanRouxel]

That's all OK. You don't have an SMTP server on your localhost machine so the emails will fail. That's not a problem (I use "dummy" and simply let if fail). If you really need to test email, then enter the settings for your ISP's SMTP server. You'll undoubtedly need an username / password too.

If that's all working then you should be able to upload and test the site.

You did mention a problem installing Perl and (infuriatingly) didn't tell us what the perl .exe you are using actually is. Any chance of being more specific?

[Michael J]

Hi,
Perl installation wasn't aproblem, at least I don't think so. It was 'warftpd' that was a problem but that seems all sorted now. In the Perl/bin folder there is two .exe files, perl5.12.2.exe and perl.exe
The version is as mentioned in my last reply -
Perl v5.12.2 MSWin32x86 multi thread with 8 reg patches.

[NormanRouxel]

I'm using Perl v5.10.1 MSWin32-x64-multi-thread (on Windows 7 Pro 64 bit) so cannot comment on whether yours will work.

Try Refreshing the site and see if it works now.

[Michael J]

I've checked and double checked settings and refreshed a few times now with no different outcome. Same old error messages and almost complete lack of navigation. What concerns me is these invalid characters within Actinic!

[NormanRouxel]

I just installed perl 5, version 12, subversion 2 (v5.12.2) built for MSWin32-x64-multi-t
hread here and have no such problems.

It may be best to post your network settings (without any passwords) so we can see what you're using.

[Michael J]

Hi, attached quick screen captures of error messages:

[NormanRouxel]

Time to check your server logs.

Your Apache installation has a "logs" folder. Look at "error.log" in there.

Actinic also writes a file "error.err" into your servers "acatalog" folder. Again inspecting that may help.

[Michael J]

OK, here we go again. Actinic 'error.err' log =
Program = CATALOG , Program version = 23357 , HTTP Server = Apache/2.2.17 (Win32) , Return code = 254 , Date and Time = 22/11/2010 19:27:42, Internal Errors = File ../acatalog/upload.zip doesn't exist,
Program = CATALOG , Program version = 23357 , HTTP Server = Apache/2.2.17 (Win32) , Return code = 254 , Date and Time = 22/11/2010 21:38:47, Internal Errors = File ../acatalog/upload.zip doesn't exist,
Program = CATALOG , Program version = 23357 , HTTP Server = Apache/2.2.17 (Win32) , Return code = 254 , Date and Time = 23/11/2010 17:12:13, Internal Errors = File ../acatalog/upload.zip doesn't exist,
Program = CATALOG , Program version = 23357 , HTTP Server = Apache/2.2.17 (Win32) , Return code = 254 , Date and Time = 23/11/2010 17:40:25, Internal Errors = File ../acatalog/upload.zip doesn't exist,
I won't bother to include the Apache error log as there is well over a few hundred, which now puts me in a rather pointless situation, what the hell to do now? What ever the problem is it's a tough one. I'm sure I have no idea what to do now!

[NormanRouxel]

I won't bother to include the Apache error log
Grrr.... Getting useful info from you is like pulling teeth. Those few hundred errors mean something serious is going wrong but you don't want to let us know what it is!

Just look at the last dozen lines of the Apache error log as they will be the ones from your most recent efforts.

[NormanRouxel]

Also, in your Network Settings screenshot, I see you've put something into the field that's marked (leave blank unless advised). Try deleting that.

You also seem to have SSL configured. That's certainly not going to work on a localhost server.

[Michael J]

Good points. The field marked ('leave blank unless advised') was originaly blank, but as soon as I close it and re-open it, it's re-populated with 'acatalog' again. However, I have reconfiqured the SSL so now not an issue.......refreshed the site......and now, it works!!!!!!!!! I've just ran the site and bought £250.00 worth of stuff from myself without a hitch, although I did select payment with order as an option (I don't have online payments set up yet) and nothing happened, so can you tell me if this should have worked or not?

[NormanRouxel]

If you can download the order you just made into Actinic then all is finally OK.

[Duncan Rounding]

Pop that Champagne cork!

[Michael J]

Sadly, not quite there yet. Waited and waited for something to happen but just received this message:
Gateway Time-out

The gateway did not receive a timely response from the upstream server or application.

Checked Actinic to see if any orders available, but none.

So seems still a small problem somewhere!

I've put the Champagne on ice!!! for now!

[leehack]

Excuse my ignorance, but what advantage does this have over having a test domain for £60-70 a year where you can see the site in a real life environment on a real server. Is the time investment into this a stubborn determination to get it working or am i missing something crucial?

[Michael J]

Come on, having used paid for servers in the past and experienced more than a fare amount of problems/downtime I thought it might be an idea to do it local. Although, you're probably right, seems this is proving a tough nut to crack. Mind you, that Champagne will go down even better when we've cracked it......or given up completely!

[leehack]

Ah i think i understand it now, you're going to actually host your site yourself, you're not just doing this to test it and then going live on a normal setup.

Your concerns would of course be somewhat empty if you weren't prepared to test on a normal server because of problems, but then went live on a normal setup. I see where you're coming from now though, i think you're a little loopy btw, but i admire your determination if nothing else. :D

[Michael J]

No'p, no intention of hosting it myself, already have a domain/hosting set up to receive it, just thought I'd test it local as part of the development stage to make any necessary tweaks etc. Which, even now I have found some needed tweaks required. Having now done it this far it would be nice to get it working, although next time it goes to a proper hosting/server!
I'm, of course, always open to constructive comments!
Mike

[leehack]

It's all a bit confusing for me then Mike, you're not prepared to test on a real environment because of downtime/problems, but you're more than happy to go live with those possible problems. That's surely completely arse upwards thinking.

If you're happy to go live on the hosting you have setup, why not switch to test mode and upload to the same environment, you're on the ultimate server you will be, people will not see the site and you have no further time to spend on a solution that on the surface (challenge aside) is not doing anything to prove or help anything.

WEB | SWITCH TO TEST MODE - job done and tested on the environment where it will end up, i don't think you can test better than that.

[Michael J]

Great idea, the problem is, I've already got a site at the domain/host site, not a store as such, but a full site of my products which is serving its purpose for the time being and I didn't want to have any downtime with that and possible trade loss. I do agree now, however, after these problems, to set up another hosted dummy site would be the best option, but for now I'd just like to get this set up working......!
With regard to test mode, do I select test mode first or upload first, then test mode?

[leehack]

If you select test mode, then upload, your existing site will remain untouched and the test site will be live too, once you've clicked on test mode, look at the network settings and you will see what actinic does to enable this facility. The site loads to a completely different place, so in essence you can have an actinic site live and a test site live all on the same domain.

[Michael J]

Interesting, my present site isn't an Actinic one just an ordinary Dreamweaver creation, would I need to make/create any server file changes before upload?

[leehack]

Only those that you will need to do once you decide to go live with the actinic site, nothing extra to do for the test site is required.

[Michael J]

Only those that you will need to do once you decide to go live with the actinic site, nothing extra to do for the test site is required.
Just as a matter of interest, how do I navigate to the Actinic Test site in the browser if my domain already points to my present site or do I copy the Actinic test location directory and insert that into the address bar?

[leehack]

I presumed you'd ask that, so back in post #39, I already answered it for you.

[Michael J]

Thanks, but I'm still confused. If I enter the address of my existing index.html page I get my existing site not the Actinic site (theoreticaly, there are now two index pages at the same location, albeit in different directories) so I therefore assume I have to enter the URL.com/acatalog/test/acatalog to access the actinic site?

[leehack]

That sounds right yes. You can't have two pages in the same place but different locations, there will be no index at root level for the actinic test site, it will move into the test folder setup.

[Michael J]

OK, thanks, a lot clearer now. I'll give it a go, not today though, got customers calling for large order so going to be busy with that. I'll let you know how I get on. By the way, thanks to you all for your valued help with my problem, hopefully I may be able to reciprocate sometime.
Mike